Willow Ridge Good Life

OOC: For @Elettra only

March 7th - Partly Cloudy - 20 ° F, -7 ° C - Morning

Aside from the sudden rise in the hormone levels of every female in the pack and a sense of tension thickly hanging around(why she didn't know) a few selected members including the matriarch herself, life was good within the willow forest. Despite the good life something ancient and instinctive was stirring within the pits of Enoki's being something that came around each year for her, but was stronger than ever this time around. Not a single paw could be placed on it yet she knew that her time left living under the thin branches of the drooping willows was coming to an end. Things were changing all around her, within her. Wolves within the pack were changing. Soon the pups would be reaching their first year of life and the older litter would be reaching adulthood. That fact alone left a lot of new possibilities to happen in the coming months. More and more she found herself itching to travel beyond the borders to areas she had not yet passed through with each day the snow melted beneath her pads. Wanderlust whispering her name on the wind to beckon her into the distance.  

The first rays of sunlight were beginning to peek through the canopy of the smooth barked trees as the piebald woman weaved between the beams of light like a game of tag, never letting them touch the ebony or ivory hairs of her pelt without her permission. Stopping briefly in her game a rough shake flung the bits of snow that had collected on the tips from romping about in the pre-dawn hours. With her heat came the annoying itch that nothing could scratch the way she needed it to be and rolling in the snow was one way she had come to soothe the warming of her skin with no help of her winter coat that now felt like a sauna under the warming temperatures of the approaching spring days. Today though, she had business to attend to. With the queen. In her mind she rehearsed the words she planned to say and how to say them. Having noticed the agitation in her body language before it completely switched to a happier prance(most likely from her own heat) there was no chance she wanted to take in upsetting the woman that had been good to her since their first encounter on the rise. No, she wanted to be honest and upfront with Elettra, doing this the right way instead of slipping undetected from the borders. She wanted her blessing in leaving. And for all she knew she may return one day after her wanderlust fled from the pads of her paws.

Once coming to a small clearing her ebony crown tipped back towards the sky and a song bellowed from the depths of her chest, calling out for the dark queen if her presence was not needed elsewhere at this moment. If more important things were to be handled with first then she could wait, but the Ashrelle woman couldn't wait long. The sooner she could get this conversation taken care of the sooner Elettra could return to other tasks at hand. She didn't want to waste any more time than neccesary for the regal queen. Howling the last note of her song the lining of her lips came to a tight close as her head lowered back down to earth, ears pricked forward to await a possible answering call while amber orbs focused on her surrounding for the swarthy woman to appear. Waiting, her body tensed slightly as nerves began to take over and the consistent itching threatened to break her composure.

 

Much time had been placed in watching over her members to make sure everything was in order. Though Elettra was content to stay by the side of @Angier as much as possible, when the couple were not insuring everyone knew the rules of this pack, Elettra was doing her normal duties as a Leader of Willow Ridge. @Sorya, no doubt, would be leaving the lands soon in order to 'report' back to their birth home, Torbine. @Xetor was still very much in the healing process and so was on den-bound duty of watching the pack den itself close to home, a job which Skana had often taken up in her later years of life before passing away. @Adele and @Nicolò were as close as ever, seemingly swapping between her duty to hunt and his to further teach the yearlings beyond their common knowledge. Alas, her two eldest children - @Skoll and @Morganna, would not be unnoticed by their lack of appearance as of late. Skoll was always wondering, but this time with Piety in tow and Morganna had went north to search for Asriel, yet not without Renier at her side. Both situations were quite concerning, to which Elettra would be left to wonder if their need for dominance and power would override their loyalty and lawfulness to the pack.

Deeply sighing to herself, Elettra calls out to @Enoki in order to allow her to know she was on her way. After nosing through one of the various caches in the pack, Elettra took her time in finishing off the groundhog she had been feasting on for her breakfast. Finally licking her stained gray rimmed muzzle and tossing her bits to the side, the woman lifted and trotted into the direction of the awaiting Enoki Ashrelle. A small smile was evident over the woman's features, a wave of her tail then offered there after. She had been lucky to 'snag Enoki up' before the winter months had come to a full swing. She had done a great portion of keeping the pack healthy fed, a quality which Elettra would never overlook in the woman. She was a far better hunter then Elettra could ever say for herself and it did not help that her patchwork of white and black contrasting coloration made her quite a striking sight as well. "Enoki, I hope your well?" She spoke to her, though keeping her voice light could not help but feel a sense of dread. As of late when she had been personally called - by Deacon, Titan, and now her, it was because they wanted to leave her...

(This post was last modified: Mar 20, 2015, 02:57 AM by Elettra.)

An answering call soon came forth on the air, dancing around the inner tufts of fur lining her ears before leaping away to fade on the morning light. She was coming. A deep inhale filled her lungs with precious air before slowly exhaling to help settle the nerves that filled her veins. She didn't know why this conversation made her so nervous. The matriarch was dear to the Ashrelle woman and all she was going to do was give her forewarning of her decision to do some traveling. It wasn't like she was asking anything complicated of the lady. Just her best wishes and eventually the piebald woman would return. There was much she still owed her friend in her mind for allowing her residency within the willows, within her home. Had Enoki not grown accustomed to the stealthy way the regal queen ghosted over the land a jump would have been her first reaction when the swarthy she-wolf appeared out of the shadows, a light tone of voice in greeting accompanied by a small smile and wave of her ebony banner. Hunching her shoulders to come to an appropriate height in the presence of royalty her own white dipped tail gave a slow wave in return as her dark tinted head gave a nod in greeting. "@Elettra . I am for the most part, yes." the words came out equal in lightness to that of the dark woman before her.

Now where to begin? "I hope I haven't kept you from important business. I have something I would like to discuss with you. Properly." Guilt would have wormed its way in and made home in her chest if the Ashrelle woman didn't go about this properly. Her parents didn't raise her to be a fool, especially in pack laws and politics. Mentally she swore to herself that once her wanderlust of the season subsided she would find her way back to the Ridge from wherever her pads managed to lead her. If Elettra would have her back that was. Or if it was even Elettra ruling by time her patchy pelt came back. There was no doubt the eldest litter was up to something to Enoki. Skoll had a look about him that screamed scheming and the glint in his eye didn't help his cause. Morganna, if she was up to anything, was more subtly in her methods. It was all hard to say though without any hard evidence of such thoughts. They were just that. Thoughts. Grazing her dark amber gaze over the graying muzzle of the matriarch she wondered how she would take the words she had spoken. With spring came departure from wolves whom wanted a life of their own. Most left to create packs of their own, or like her left to fulfill the wanderlust itching at her joints for consistent traveling. Hopefully they were taken in a more positive manor despite what was coming.

She was well - at least, for the most part, as she had said. It was a small comment which Elettra caught though would not comment on. Life was life, as it was, with plenty of ups and downs. Right now, tension, concern, and all other matters were in the air with breeding season, as well as various members leaving the pack with the coming of spring to travel or form their own pack's with their mates. At first, the process was hurtful to Elettra, so many drooping the pack in order to 'travel' or form their own pack when hers was so wonderful on it's own (not pompous at all, Elettra) though over time she well learned to understand it. There was a need within a wolf's bones and in the bed's of their paws. A need which Elettra, too, long ago had filled.

"Just replenishing my energy..." She spoke, lightly mentioning the small meal which she had just before their meeting, which caused a lick at her pink stained lips, otherwise rimmed in gray furs. After spending so much time entangled amongst her mate during this time of year, there was no doubt, but that information went unspoken. "Go on then." She awaits, taking this moment to sit down on the forest floor before the woman, her eyes passing over her patch-work coating before falling on her face once more. It was luck that when Enoki had first visited the lands, traveling around them, that upon her second trip she was able to run into her again. Winters were far better with Enoki Ashrelle within your ranks, even more so with the Guardian brother at her side, although his stay had been less fulfilling.

(This post was last modified: Apr 02, 2015, 04:31 PM by Elettra.)

The wind picks up and the stink of something rancid fills the air.

You're making Enoki feel so guilty and crappy post is crappy xD

As luck would have it the dark queen was indeed not busy. From the look of her scarlet tinted maw and lick of her chops one could only guess the dark coated woman before Enoki had to have enjoyed a bite of breakfast before answering the subordinate's summons. 'Go on.' was the quick answer to further coax the Ashrelle she-wolf to speak whatever it was on her mind. Taking a deep inhale to calm the nerves that began to scratch at the surface her own haunches moved to mirror the position Elettra had taken while waiting for her counterparts words. "As I'm sure you're aware, spring is approaching the borders and with it come many urges one feels. I'd like to make it clear now that I am not out seeking permission to bring forth pups. I could never do something like that to someone who has taken me in and I've come to respect as a leader and friend." Her words then paused to allow them to be absorbed by the swarthy matriarch.

Momentarily the points of her ears flicked to brush against the scruff of her neck before returning to a partially relaxed position atop her head. "I've called you to ask for your blessing in leaving the Ridge for a while. To sooth the wanderlust aching at my pads before it drives me stir crazy. I have full intentions of returning once its gone." It was all truth that the patchy female spoke. Of course she didn't know exactly what was in store for her once she left, but that did little to chip away at her pure intent. Scratch the itch and return home. This was the goal in mind.

Buahaha!

Elettra listens ever so carefully as she keeps her placement in a sit before the woman who equally sits before her, silken ears perked high on her head. The mentioning of spring, the different desires that rose with it... Instinct was something many could not ignore and it seemed more so for those with a dominant drive were ones to leave in order to have children, whilst not so dominant stayed behind with no need to Lead and, with it, bare children. Enoki mentions she has no intention to break the natural ruling of only Leaders reproducing, nor ask permission for it. Although loving someone and wanting a family was not at all wrong, sometimes how you go about doing it was. There was no farmer's market for wolves and caring for one litter of pups was hard enough. It was a risk having more then one litter, food becoming more scarce, even more so with less wolves to hunt because more eyes needed to be on the larger volume of children. Willow Ridge had been lucky with Gus, being only one extra child whom was primarily distanced and fed by his mother's hunts only.

Then, after, her intent was made clear. She wished to leave, yes, though not because she wanted to have children so badly that she must leave. She wanted to travel, again, as she had the spring and summer months prior. After all, this was already Enoki's second time visiting the Lore.  "If that is what you wish, Enoki, I cannot force your stay. It goes without saying that this pack will miss you, I will miss you." She frowns delicately, her head falling as she turned her gaze the other way a moment before coming back to the black and white lady. "I wish for your safety, of course... Try to come back to us by next winter?" If she did have intention of returning, perhaps quite a number of months by now she would be willing to settle again, at least for Winter's sake. Alas, Enoki would both be safe and Willow Ridge would have it's wonderful huntress back in the worst of times.  

The coal blackness of Enoki's nose gave a subtle twitch as something rancid on the breeze suddenly burned the inner lining of her nostrils. Whatever it was was gone as soon as it arrived, allowing the two women to continue with their conversation. Black audits flicking in recognition at the dark queen's words. A sympathetic whine wanted to break past the dark furred lining of her lips at the emphasis on Elettra missing the patchy woman followed by a delicate frown adorning the dark woman's lips, but her willpower kept such vocalization from becoming audible. Although the depths of her dark amber eyes shone with the same emotion her throat wished to emit watching the proud Archer lower her head. The Ashrelle woman would no doubt miss the regal leader and the lands under her paw as well. She may not have come to know many of the members of her ranks, but she would still miss them all the same. One day she would return.

Shortly after the ghostly grey optics of the she-wolf returned to the magpie colored wolf, expressing her wish of safety over her travels and hopes she would return by the beginning of winter. Enoki had no qualms with that request seeing as her plans had not been made to extend past summer. Winter was not the best time of the year to go sight seeing around the land with snowstorms and declining prey availability. In her mind she figured by mid summer at the latest she would be finding herself embraced by the thin whip like branches of the drooping willows once more. Should luck in traveling be in her favor the pads of her paws would be bringing her back by the end of spring once the unfathomable itch had receded. "Thank you, Elettra. I'm glad I can call you not only a respectable leader, but a friend. Don't let things change too much while I am away, yeah?" She speaks in a light tone to ease up the heavy amount of sentiment clogging up the air, rising to take a step near the other and adorn the underside of her chin with a lick both submissive and friendly.

  "I'll do my best, as always." She offers a small smile, both knowing her best was usually very well off. Now (if it had gone properly) being pregnant and having her mind focused on the pups to come and keeping herself safe from harm's way, Elettra had no intention of slacking off. Of course, there was still the problem with Skoll whom had gotten more and more so out of paw since his last encounter with Rook at the borders and whether the situation was in the end per Angier's workings had yet to be revealed. As far was Elettra was aware, Skoll's little 'game' was still very much on.  If anything, maybe @Morganna would put him in place to allow him to know he was not the only child worthy of being Heir of Willow Ridge.

Enoki's lick to her chin then was offered with a jutting of Elettra's muzzle, pressing at her cheek with a deep breath, then a huff, her tail lightly swaying behind her. Moving away and taking a few steps forth, she had no intention of leaving the woman's side until she had fully left the Ridge and officially no longer called herself one of their own.  "Ill walk you to the border." She spoke, awaiting the woman so that she may guide her. If luck had it, perhaps she would end up running into Angier or one of her Seconds so that she may inform them of the ill news promptly.  

The gesture was returned with a prodding of Elettra's muzzle to her swarthy cheek, a gentle smile pulling back the equally dark lining of her lips. Giving her own tail a small sway behind her her body shifted position to come to the side of the Archer woman as her paws began to make leave for the border, insisting on escorting the Ashrelle woman out of her lands. Nodding her crown briefly there was no refusal of one last stroll together. "I do hope there is a new batch of pups to care for when I return." A smug smirk sent in the other woman's direction knowingly. There was a change beginning in the matriarch's scent that was unmistakably that of a pregnancy beginning its first stages. If Enoki's nose was correct(which is usually was) then come May there would be tiny mewling bodies crawling around the den. Further extending both the Archer and Lyall bloodlines. Legacies in their own rights.  

Shifting her attention forward again, deep amber optics focused on the passing of thin trunks and nearing invisible line marking the end of the territory and beginning of her journey. Allowing the whip-like branches beginning to blossom with the new canopy of leaves caress over the intertwining hairs of ivory and ebony on her back. These too would be missed. The way the branches offered chew toys when bord'em struck, offered shade in the heat of the summer months. Nowhere else in the lore did such magnificent trees grow. A one of a kind area. Slowing the pace of her paw steps a bit to extend the length of time it would take to finally reach the border her head swung back towards Elettra. There was one thing she wanted to say before she truly left. "While I'm away, beware Skoll and whatever thoughts he might have. I know he is your son and I haven't properly gotten a chance to meet him to know what he's like, but his aura seems awfully dark these days when I see him in passing. Call it a hunch if you will." A sincere look of uncertainty about the boy flashing across her orbs. Who knew what that boy was planning in that brooding mind of his.